A royally inspired lover of Kate Middleton who loves to talk about all things fashion, beauty and travel. Love dreaming BIG, and the perfect setting of Victorian, Georgian, Edwardian or Regency period novels, based in England. In search of the perfect "replikate".

Month: December 2017

Concrete floors add to the value of residential and commercial establishments alike. If properly taken care of, this flooring can last for years without the need of any repairs or replacement. However, maintaining the glossy texture, particularly seen in polished concrete floors is often considered a tedious process. Even though concrete floors can turn out to be the most durable form of flooring, yet they require proper care and maintenance in order to remain at their best condition.

Unless you are aware of the right ways to maintain your window roller shutters, you might end up replacing your old shutters at a regular interval. Buying a shutter already costs you a lot. So, changing it once in every year is not economically viable. On the other hand, you may not be economically stable all the time to install new window shutters. So, simple maintenance steps can help you a lot and get a cleaned roller shutter every time. You do not have to clean the roller shutters every day. Cleaning once a week or maybe once in a month can work magically for you. Moreover, the steps are rather simple and you do not need an expert cleaner to help you in this regard.

If you want to bring in some stylistic changes into your home, the vintage style might just be what you’re looking for. It’s a very popular choice for people who don’t want to invest a ton of money into new designer furniture and extravagant art pieces.

In order to achieve a charming vintage look, you can simply visit your local flea market for some cheap finds and spice up the look with a few real antiques, and voila! If these instructions weren’t too clear, here’s a more detailed guide on how to achieve a vintage style home.

Maximize on wood

To achieve a perfect nostalgic feel in your home, wood is an absolute must. Forget about drywall and opt for wood planks all over your home (the ceiling too!). Wood’s warmth and character can’t be replicated with any other material. Opt for natural, locally sourced wood, and try to leave your beams exposed for a maximum effect. However, if your budget doesn’t allow you to go all-in with wood, you can place it on one wall or ceiling, and still reap the benefits of this timeless material.

Bring in salvaged materials

Salvaged and reclaimed materials carry a bunch of character, so don’t forget to introduce some of them into your home. Salvaged wood is an especially interesting flooring option (and much cheaper than the new thing). Leave all the wear and tear marks, as even old nail holes and stains tell an exciting story.

Go vintage with furniture

Any vintage style home can’t be designed without classic vintage furniture. And don’t worry about those tiny wear and tear marks. These scars add depth to the piece and show it has a rich history. However, if the fabric is too damaged or the color or pattern doesn’t appeal to you, you can always reupholster it and give it new life. It’s still cheaper and much more stylish than buying replicas.

Animal imagery

Animal imagery is another key element of any vintage design. Here we’re not talking about leopard prints of the 80s, but about charming birds, bunnies and foxes that peacefully roam the fields. They are super cute (and also quite hipsterish, if that’s your thing). You can incorporate these animal motifs into throw pillows, lamp shades, mugs or even wallpapers. However, don’t go overboard, otherwise, your home will end up looking like a zoo. You don’t need foxes on your wallpaper if you already have bunnies on your cushions.

Don’t forget your entrance

Your doors are just as important as any part of your home, so make sure to match them with your overall style. For instance, get a bunch of old flower pots and plant some red Geraniums to create a warm welcoming feel for all your house guests. You can also opt for herbs like rosemary or basil that will both look amazing and provide you with fresh cooking ingredients. And, of course, hang a wooden swing on your porch for relaxing and romantic evenings. Also, if you think your doors don’t match your desired style, you can replace them with something more stylish. Just take a look at some of these great options from Simply Doors and Windows and take your pick.

Create a tea lounge

There’s nothing more vintage than an old-fashioned tea party. So, designate one part of your home for tea at 5 and go shopping for some vintage teacups.

They come in any color, design and shape imaginable, but make sure you opt for an old-timey set.

Also, don’t bother with being too matchy-matchy. Mismatched saucers and cups are super charming, and they look very vintage.

Vintage style is all about the character of objects and the feeling and atmosphere they inspire. It’s interesting, nostalgic and charming. So, if you can see yourself living in such an environment, feel free to give it a try.

Do you look perfect tonight and still unable to get your best photograph yet? Have you started to believe that you are not beautiful enough or just not that photogenic? If yes, I must tell you that all these things are untrue.

The truth is taking a good photo of yourself does not require perfect looks as nobody is perfect in every way.

All you need for an amazing photo is a good quality camera, some confidence in front of it and also wear your makeup in the right manner. Yes, makeup does have an impact on the way you appear in photos greatly. That is why the celebrities always turn out perfect in pictures, no matter what.

Want to know those tips and tricks of makeup that can help you get the best click? Read through and thank me later!

Even, Healthy and Blemish-free Skin

Nobody likes it when they can see their dark circles and zits all prominent in the photos. Uneven and dull tone of the skin is the ultimate turn off for both reality and in the photos. Therefore, you need to work on your skin to make it look all naturally healthy and even. You must add a little warmth to the skin tone if you want to appear healthy in the photos. Take a warm-toned foundation for your skin that has full coverage. Also, use an under-eye brightening highlighter to make the skin look very plumped and bright.

Make that Highlight Pop

Using a highlighter is essential if you are about to take some photos as it really helps make the skin look fresh and healthy. It also makes the face appear more sculpted. However, you might want to work a little harder to make that highlight pop in the photos. Here is a trick: take an oil-free moisturizer and apply it to the areas which you want to highlight. Then, take a powder highlighter and dab on top of the moisturizer before it gets fully absorbed.

Bigger and More Attractive Eyes

You must work a little extra on the eyes if you want them to look big and beautiful in the photos. The camera loves contrast and therefore, you must define your brows with a dark-colored brow gel, apply a bold liner and add some volume to the lashes. Also, apply a beige pencil in the waterline with a brown shadow in the lower outer corners of the eyes. Highlight the inner corners of the eyes and brow bones as well.

Perfectly Pouty Lips

Pouty lips are the never-ending trend and even the thinnest lips can turn a little pouty by the right makeup trick. Make sure you use a darker shade of lip liner to contour the lips and then, fill them in with a bold lip shade to really bring out the plumpness of lips. Do not opt for dark lip shades as they tend to make you look dull and tired.

Author Bio:

Sania is a student of accounts and finance. She enjoys shopping, trying out skincare remedies and blogging about anything that is related to beauty and self-care. Her love for pets, tea and travelling is eternal. She recently published a post on choosing the correct moisturizer for skin.

From a controversial subject we only relate to celebrities under pressure, to something your mom will treat herself to on vacation, beauty procedures and plastic surgery have evolved into something that’s now a lot more accepted. You now get a whole range of choices, and can indulge in all sorts of treatments that will improve not only your beauty, but your confidence and your sense of self. To celebrate this trend of judgement-free personal choices, we present to you some of the most popular procedures around the world that you should keep an eye on in the year of 2018.

Both children and adults alike have been enraptured with Arthur Ransome’s classic tale of adventure and friendship, Swallows & Amazons, since its release all the way back in 1930.

With a thrilling narrative that combines treasure hunting, swashbuckling and the carefree exploits of childhood – the story has undoubtedly stood the test of time, even receiving a film adaptation as recently as 2016 starring Andrew Scott (Sherlock) and Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire).

One of the main draws of his writing are the vividly beautiful environments he describes. The best part about this? You can visit them!

An admirer of the Lake District and its natural splendour, Ransome combined aspects of many places including Windermere and Coniston Water to craft the vivid world the protagonists of his novels explore.

Read on to find out how you can cast off into your very own Swallows & Amazons adventure.

When it comes to living room decorations, people spend long hours finding the perfect sofa, choosing the colour scheme, and picking the artwork to hang on their walls. Sadly, not many people remember that lighting is equally important, as the living room is the place where you will be spending a lot of time with friends and family, watching TV or just spending some quality time together. We give you several tips that will help you light your living room like a professional interior designer.

Recent Posts: The Lady Wallace

Recent Posts: Penguin Blog

Our brand new website is here and it’s the place to go for all things bookish. This means that we won’t be posting any new updates on the Penguin Blog, instead we’ve moved all your favourite articles, interviews, and extracts to http://www.penguin.co.uk and will host all the latest news and exclusive content here. Watch our video below for a look at what you can find there.

Never fear, Penguin Life is here with a series of fabulous talks and events designed to get you to make the most of your 2016 resolutions and live life better whether that’s at home, work or play across the whole year.

You can be happier, healthier and slimmer in just 15 minutes a day with the superb advice from The Feel Good Plan, by celebrity trainer Dalton Wong and health writer Kate Faithfull-Williams. Here’s an extract that shows you how to relax and refocus at work.

It’s the small, everyday things that make a difference and contribute to a happier, more fulfilled life. Writers from The Book of You﻿ have chosen some of their favourite micro-actions that you can easily put into practice for a sunnier, more contented you.